Angela Hurni

I have been teaching adult learners for over 20 years, and I have grown to appreciate that every student brings different things to the classroom. They may come from different cultures, they have different past learning experiences, they may have real-world work experience, and they all have different learning styles and capabilities. The best thing a teacher can do is to ask questions of their students. Find out what they bring to the classroom and what their experiences are, then provide learning options and a supportive environment. Students are more successful if they feel like they are in a supportive… >>>

I learned there are numerous learning styles. I will use this information about learning styles to make sure I use various techniques and tools in my courses that can motivate and provide comprehension for different types of learners. For example, when creating an online lecture and assignment, I can use a few different techniques like written information, PowerPoint slideshows, videos, and discussion posts where students can apply their knowledge while also interacting with other students.

I have learned that the foundations of adult learning can be traced back to 1968 when Knowles coined the term 'andragogy', which refers to a field of science that emphasizes helping adults and adult learning theories. Teachers can benefit from understanding Knowles' theory about adult learners and the five basic assumptions that can be made about adult learners: they bring with them many life experiences; their learning needs changes as their social roles change; they want to use their new-found knowledge immediately; they have internal motivators; and they want to be informed as to why material is being taught. Rogers… >>>

I have learned that adult development occurs in different ways. Erickson believes that personal development occurs in a series of psycho-social stages and should occur within a specific time frame. Levinson also believes that development occurs in stages, but the biggest contrast with Erickson is that these stages are determined by chronological age. Lastly, Havighurst views human development as a series of tasks that occur during different age ranges or time frames. These three psychologists offer similar theories as to what motivates students. Teachers of different age groups will benefit from understanding the importance of reaching various stages of development… >>>

Adult learners differ from their younger counterparts in many ways. One way is due to their overall cognitive functions: they may be slower to remember things (yet still have a decent memory capacity), and they may be slower in performing tasks. Adult learners also differ due to the reasons they are seeking higher education degrees. They tend to be motivated by major life changes, such as getting married, having a baby, or switching careers. Other reasons adult learners seek out higher education degrees, aside from increasing their job prospects, include wanting to be more social, meeting the demands of a… >>>